By Jelili Gbadamosi
Rescue teams are continuing efforts to recover miners trapped after a mining pit collapsed in Mayo-Kam community, Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The collapse occurred on Thursday while miners were reportedly working at the site, leaving residents in shock and raising fears that several people may have been buried beneath the debris.
While community sources put the number of possible victims at more than 20, the Taraba State Police Command said the actual casualty figure had yet to be determined.
The command’s spokesperson, Victor Msherizar, confirmed that five bodies had been recovered from the collapsed pit as of the time of filing the report.
He said rescue operations were still ongoing to locate and evacuate anyone who might remain trapped underground, adding that the command would provide further information once the situation became clearer.
A resident, Kenneth Ayila, had earlier said more than 20 miners were feared trapped or killed in the collapse.
Community leader Mallam Usman Bello also confirmed the incident, saying most of those working at the site were indigenes of Mayo-Kam, while only a few miners reportedly came from neighbouring communities.
The tragedy has again drawn attention to the dangers associated with unregulated mining activities in Taraba, where concerns have previously been raised over illegal mining despite reported restrictions on such operations.
The state government had yet to issue an official statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.
